HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY

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Annice Williamson
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1 TRANS HIMALAYA (Jammu &Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim) Floristic elements Alpine Cold Desert Threatened 68 species Vulnerable - 18 Critically Endangered - 9 Oasitic Vegetation Sikkim >600 flowering plants Ladakh and Tibetan Plateau - Angiosperms - 1,400 species (417 genera, 89 families) Dicots 1,030 species (310 genera, 73 families,) Monocots 376 species (107 genera, 16 families) Gymnosperms - 8 species (5 genera, 3 families) Avian Fauna Ladakh and Tibetan Plateau > Species Sikkim - 27 Bird Species 4 globally threatened 3 restricted range species 93 biome restricted species Medicinal plants plants are used in Tibetan Medicine System

2 HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY NORTH-WEST HIMALAYA (Jammu &Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh) Floristic elements sub-tropical Temperate sub-alpine Jammu & Kashmir 3,054 plant species Alpine Himachal Pradesh 4,000 plant species 20% plants species endemic to the Himalaya Medicinal plants Sacred Groves - > 5,000 Wild edibles Jammu & Kashmir 814 animal species Himachal Pradesh 1,262 animal species Globally threatened Angulates - 19 species Fauna Mammals - 75 species Birds 358 Amphibians - 14 Reptiles 68 Fishes - 44 Insects - 255

3 WEST HIMALAYA Major river systems, i.e., Ganga, and Yamuna originate from this region and are source of water, food and hydropower for over 10 million people inhabiting up-streams and several millions more down-streams of northern Indo-Gangetic plains Floristic elements sub-tropical Temperate sub-alpine Species Number Alpine Angiosperm Gymnosperm 48 Pteridophytae 360 Bryophyte Lichen 435 Algae species Fungi Faunal Diversity (Species) Mammal 102 Birds 521 Insects 1263 Mollusca 56 Annelid - 57 Amphibian 19 Reptile 70 Fish 124 Biodiversity is at the centre of many religions and culture inter-linking and regulating resource management.

4 HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY CENTRAL HIMALAYA Species Central % of Himalaya India Floristic Group Ferns 480 Lichens 506 Orchids 527 Primulas 58 Rhododendrons 38 Bamboo 25 Faunal Groups Amphibians 50 Birds 574 India s only population of Southern Butterflies 689 Kiang (Equus kiang polygodon) Fishes 48 Species in the world above 5000 m amsl Mammals 125 Reptiles 88 Fossil - Poorvi botapa, which bears a close resemblance to primitive wild maize Rhododendron nivale - only shrub Scutiger sikkimensis - only amphibian Largest producer of large cardamom in India

HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY EAST HIMALAYA Being

biological elements from both the Palearctic and

threatened 13 restricted range species Realm-

1396 Amphibians 882 Endemic Mammals - 544 Birds

1528 774 395 472 188 438 255 Only region on earth

goral N. baileyi plant species of India.

5 HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY EAST HIMALAYA Being junction of two Global Biodiversity Hotspots, i.e., Himalaya and Indo Burma, the region harbours biological elements from both the Palearctic and Indomalayan realms Faunal species 10 globally threatened 13 restricted range species Realm- Indomalayan Mammals Birds 2000 Reptiles 1396 Amphibians 882 Endemic Mammals Birds 758 Reptiles 1094 Amphibians 11 Palaerctic Only region on earth known to harbour all three species of goral (Nemorhaedus) Chinese goral N. caudatus Nearly 50 % of the total flowering Red goral N. baileyi plant species of India. Himalayan goral N. goral Highest number of orchids species 12 endangered 16 vulnerable 31 near threatened 26 major and 110 minor tribal communities

HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION Himalayan Landscape encompasses great diversity of landforms The

Western Himalaya A) E astern Himalaya Sikkim NEPAL Number of Assam hills Nagaland Manipur Wildlife Sanctuaries Biosphere

6 HIMALAYAN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION Himalayan Landscape encompasses great diversity of landforms The initial conservation efforts in the country took off from this region only with the establishment of the Corbett National Park (1935). N Area (km2) W S Jammu & Kashmir NP s S anctuaries Himachal Pradesh TI 5000 BE T( Uttarankhand 0 CH IN Western Himalaya A) E astern Himalaya Sikkim NEPAL Number of Assam hills Nagaland Manipur Wildlife Sanctuaries Biosphere Reserves North-Eastern Himalaya Central Himalaya Eastern Himalaya h es d a Pr l ha c a Meghalaya National Parks Western Himalaya North-E ast Himalaya un Ar BHUTAN & WB Hills Protected Area (km2) E Tripura Mizoram

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF HIMALAYA Regulating the climate in Indian

firewood, timber, medicine and genetic resources.

source of livelihood of Himalayan people.

7 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF HIMALAYA Regulating the climate in Indian subcontinent Biodiversity is source of many ecosystem goods, such as food, firewood, timber, medicine and genetic resources. Provisioning of Water to millions of people Forest diversity is the main source of livelihood of Himalayan people. The most notable Ecosystem Service is C- sequestration by forest ecosystems. The C-pool in forests (biomass + soil) of Indian Himalayan Region has been estimated at 531 M t. The value of Himalayan forests with regards to C-sequestration has been estimated at Rs. 943 billion/yr (1994 estimates).

8 BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS M Biomolecules of commercial importance bp 2027 bp 1375 bp Identification of elite plants based on active ingredients contents and molecular characterization. Analysis of genetic diversity of economically & ecologically important plants. Development of propagation and cultivation packages. Nursery development for mass multiplication and field trials. Conservation of unique biodiversity elements (rare, threatened and high value plants).

9 MICROBIAL DIVERSITY Ecological Niche areas Low temperature (Cold desert, Glaciers) High temperature environment (Hot Springs) Rhizosphere, Agriculture & Forest Soil Fire - Shifting Cultivation & Forest Mountain Water Bodies Microbial communities Psychrophiles, psychrotrophs Archea, thermophiles, hyperthermophiles, thermotolerants Plant growth promoting microorganisms Biological indicators, bacteriophages, pathogens Applications Antagonism Antimicrobials Enzymes Bioinoculants Biodegradation Mineral solubilization

LARGE CARDAMOM IN THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA Sikkim is the largest producer of large cardamom

The inhabitants of Sikkim The Lepchas were believed to be the first to collect cardamom

Cardamom has 12 local varieties and seven species of wild relatives readapted to different

Large cardamom is a perennial understorey cash crop grown under Himalayan alder (Alnus

10 LARGE CARDAMOM IN THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA Sikkim is the largest producer of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) in India. The inhabitants of Sikkim The Lepchas were believed to be the first to collect cardamom capsules from natural forests primarily for use as medicine and aromatic edible wild fruit. Cardamom has 12 local varieties and seven species of wild relatives readapted to different agroclimatic conditions of the Eastern Himalayan region. Large cardamom is a perennial understorey cash crop grown under Himalayan alder (Alnus nepalensis) or mix forest tree species in the hills. NTFPs from Agroforestry System Ecologically, economically and socially sustainable land use practice supporting multiple functions and ecosystem services.

BIORESOURCE-BASED PRODUCTS Cultivated and

millions of people in forest fringes all

11 BIORESOURCE-BASED PRODUCTS Cultivated and wild bioresources play vital role in the economy of the traditional communities, and is important source of livelihood for millions of people in forest fringes all across the Himalaya. Out of over 18,000 recorded plant species, many of wild plant species are recognized to posses ethnobiological value, with marketability. 134 fibre yielding plants reported from the Indian Himalaya possessing ecological and economic potential. The use of higher Himalayan bamboo has a long tradition among the Rudhiya community of western Himalayan region and a wide range of local products i.e., baskets, utensils, Porridge, mats, agricultural tools, etc. made by them which involves indigenous skill and cultural beliefs and constitutes an important basis for livelihood improvement of this community.

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, India

Final Technical Report of the UNDP-GEF Sponsored Project National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, India Volume 2 Executing Agency Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India Technical